Construction system



July 18, 1939. H p FORD 2,166,658

CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM Filed sept. 21)' 1936 gamas-sheet 1 Z A lNvENToRJuly 18, 1939. H. P. FoRD n 2,166,658

CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM Filed Sept. 2l, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J8 27 f v Flamm? 2 Patented July 18, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

My invention relates to a system of building construction, and thegeneral object of my invention is to provide a simple, fire resistant orreproof, strong and secure, attractive, permanent and low-cost system ofconstruction, more especially for homes and other buildings in whichload requirements are light; having lightweight open web steel frameworkwith units standardized to a maximum extent, and yet which permits anytype of architectural design; having lightweight surfacings; havingefficient heat insulation; adaptable to easy installation of `variousitems of modern mechanical and electrical equipment; and conforming tostandard engineering principles.

It is my purpose to use standard steel shapes, Widely available at thelowest cost, and to use simple machinery and simple plant, in thefabrication and erection of structures embodying my invention.

The time will probably come, when certain other metals or alloys will belargely used instead of steel in the form in which it is-commonly known.Therefore, wherever the term steel is used herein, the same shall beheldto include other metals and their various alloys.

The above mentioned generalobjects of my invention, together with othersinherent in the same, are attained in the manner illustrated in thefollowing drawings, the same being preferred exemplary forms of -myinvention, thruF out which drawings like reference numerals indicatelike parts:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of an open web beam connected toan open web column.

Fig. 2 consists of a typical vertical section thru the beam, taken at 22, in Fig. 1.

Fig` 3 consists of a typical horizontal section, taken at 3-3 in Fig. 1,thru an open web column.

Fig. 4 is a typical vertical section thru a single beam or joist,showing a transverse stiffening and supporting member disposed thru theopen web, together with timber members disposed 'along the upper sidesof the beam for the support of a sub-floor or sub-roof, all web membersbeing omitted.

Fig. 5 consists of a fragmentary vertical elevation of an openweb steelcolumn shown connected to an open web steel beam, together with afragmentary vertical section thru a floor or roof, and thru a ceiling.

Fig. 6 consists of a fragmentary vertical section, taken at 6-6 in Fig.5, showing fire-resistant floor or roof construction, and ceilingconstruction.

Fig. 7 is a typical horizontal section, taken at 'l-l in Fig. 5, thru anopen web column, together with a timber member for attachment of Wallsurfacings.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary horizontal section showing fire-resistant wallconstruction.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary side elevation of a roof truss.

Fig. 10 is a typical section, taken at llll0 in Fig. 9, thru the rooftruss, showing a transverse stiffening and supporting member, togetherwith timber members along the upper sides of the truss for attachment ofa subroof.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary horizontal section showing a fire-proofwallconstruction, and show' ing the wall bearing and connecting girders, oninner wall faces, at yioor and roof levels.

Fig. 12 is a typical vertical section, taken at I2--l2 in Fig. 11, thrua long-wall connecting and bearing girder which is perpendicular to thejoists.

Fig. 13 is a typical fragmentary outside elevation of a long-wallbearing and connecting girder.

Fig. 14 isa typical vertical section, taken at lll-I4 in Fig. 11, thru ashort-Wall bearing and connecting girder, which is parallel to thejoists.

Fig. 1.5 is a typical fragmentary outside ele- Vation of a short-wallbearing and connecting girder.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary vertical section thru a reproof floor, or roof,and ceiling, construction.

Referring rst to Fig, 1, I show a fragmentary side elevation of an openweb beam having a top chord l, a bottom chord 2 and web members 3connected at points 4, as by rivets, or by spot welds with thin metalsections, to form openings 5 in the web of the beam; together with anopen web column having an inner flange 6 and an outer flange Lconnectedby web plates 8 to form openings 9 in the web of the column; togetherwith a sectional View of an upper chord l0 and a lower chord ll of awall bearing and connecting girder. The inner flange 6 of the columnsupports the lupper chord I0 and the lower chord Il of the wall bearingand connecting girder, which in turn supports the open web beam at itstop chord I andbottom chord 2.

In Fig. 2 I showa vertical section thru a beam, wherein top chord lconsists of double bars of suitable section, and bottom chord 2 consistsof similar double bars.

In Figs. 1 and 2I showan open web steel beam in which vertical membersl2, preferably angles, are situated .in pairs on opposite sides of thebeam, with pairsspaced apart along the beam,

and connecting outer edges of the top flange with outer edges of thebottom flange, as at points I3, and preferably by welding.

In Figs. 1 and 2 I show open web steel beams in which the web bars ortrussing members 3 consist of a dished or troughed section in the centerlength or main length of the web bar, with flattened ends to facilitateconnection to the top and bottom chords. The web bars 3 may consist of achannel or angle section with its ends flattened; but are preferablyflat bars dished or troughed to a U or V mid-section, to increase thestiffness of the member. The flat bar, from which the member is pressedor formed, may varyv in width and/or in thickness, to give web bars 3which vary in cross sectional area and hence in stiffness, in differentparts of the beam, to conform to the varying shear and diagonalY webstresses. v

In Fig. 3 I show in horizontal cross section an open web steel columnconsisting of a main bearing angle having a Wide leg or flange 6 on itsinner face, connected in spaced relation by spaced connection plates 8to a stiiening angle having a narrow outer face or flange 1, to formpreferably a channel section. l Y

In Figs. 1 and 5 I show in elevation the open web steel columnconstruction, shown in cross section in Fig. 3, and consisting of twoangles connected in a spaced apart manner to form preferably a channelsection, having the wide flange 6 on the inner wall face, and the narrowflange 'I on the outer wall face, with the two angles connected inspaced relation by the spaced `plates 8, with alternate plates disposedon opposite sides of open column web. Connection plates 8 are preferablyprovided with holes, for attachment purposes.

In Figs. 4, and 6 I show an open web steel floor and roof constructionin which paired vertical members I2 are spaced along the beam, togetherwith spaced horizontal stiffening and bearing members I8, preferablychannels, connected at points I9 to both of paired vertical members I2,with members I8 perpendicular to web plane 2|! of the open web beams.This construction permits rigid side stiifening of the series of beams;prevents beams from twisting or canting; and affords excellent bearingmeans for ceiling construction.

In Figs. 4, 5 and 6 I also show timber members 2| connected along uppersides of the beam to spaced paired members I2, at points 22, preferablyby bolts, thus to form, together with the open web beam, a T-section.The timber members 2| are disposed with their tops approximately at thesame level as the tops of beam flanges I. This construction providesadded stiffening for the top chord, and provides nailing means forsecuring the wood sub-roof or subfloor 23, the same being preferablyfull thickness 2inch planking, thus permitting a wide center to centerspacing of beams. In Figs. 4, 5.and 6 the web members 3 are indicated bycenter lines.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I show floor and roof surfacing secured to the woodsub-floor or sub-roof 23. The surfacing shall preferably consist of awatertight metal membrane plasterbase 24 together with surface 25 ofadhering weatherproof plaster or stucco; or surfacing may consist ofopen metal mesh 26 together with plastered surface 25.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I also show a ceiling construction in which thetransverse bearer bars I8 support spaced bars 2'I, parallel toY thebeams, with the bottoms of the barsZI in the same plane as the bottomface or flange 2 of the beam, forming a plane for the support of metallath 28 and plastered ceiling 29. Loose porous mineral ll 30 may beplaced on top of the metal lath 28, to insulate the ceiling against .thetransmission of heat or sound.

In Figs. 7 and 8 I show a type of column and outer wall constructionconsisting of the open web steel columns having a channel section withthe wide inner flange 6, and the narrow outer flange together with atimber nailing member 3| secured to the open web of each of the columns,with the inner and outer faces of the timber member 3| in the sameplanes as the inner and outer column flanges, together with a woodsub-wall 34, preferably of full thickness 2- inch planks,'secured overthe outer Wall face of the columns, and with a metal membraneplasterbase 24 secured to the outer sub-wall 34, and with a surfacing ofweatherproof plaster or stucco over the plasterbase 24. Spaced non-loadbearing vertical furring members 32, preferably bar channels, have theirinner faces in the same plane as the inner column faces or the flanges6, thus forming a plane for the support of the metal lath 28 and theplastered surface 29. Loose porous insulating ll may be used in the wallspace between columns; or sheet insulating material 33 may be secured tothe inner face of the outer sub-wall 34. This results in strong,durable, warm outer wall construction which is fireresistant, and is oflow cost.

In Figs. 9 and 10 I show a truss construction wherein diagonals 3consist of pipe or tubing, with ends flattened for connection to the topchord I and the bottom. chord 2, together with paired vertical membersI2, bearing and stiifening members I8, timber nailing members 2|, woodsub-roof 23, metal membrane plasterbase 24, and weatherproof plasteredsurface 25.

In Fig. 11 I show in horizontal section a type of reproof outer wallconstruction, consisting of the open web columns having inner anges 6and outer flanges together with porous, or thin- Wall hollow, flreproofblock construction 35 in the outer wall space between columns; and withmetal reinforcing rods 36 disposed in the joints of the blockconstruction and extending thru the open webs of the columns; togetherwith the spaced non-load bearing vertical furring members 32 in theinner wall space between the columns; and with the metal membraneplasterbase 24 and plastered surface 25 over the outer faces of thecolumns and the block construction 35.

In Figs. 5, l1, 12, and 13 I show a connecting and supporting girder foruse at the floor and/or roof lines, in the long Wall or that wallperpendicular to the web plane 2D of the beams; with the top chord I0 inthe angle between the plane of the bottom surfaces of beam top chords I,and the plane of the inner flanges 6 of the columns; with the bottomchord in the angle between the plane of the bottom surfaces vof beambottom chords 2 and the plane of the inner flanges 6 of the columns;together with'vertical members 3'| connecting the outer faces of thechords I0 and II, and provided-with holes 3B for the attachment of thevertical non-load bearing furring members 32; together with diagonal ortrussing members 39 connectingthe chords I0 and and with means shown at40 for connecting chord members I0 and I to the inner column flanges 6.Columns and vertical members 32 are shown dotted in Fig. 13. In Fig. 12one end of the beam is shown dotted.

In Figs. 11, 14 and 15 I show a connecting and supporting girder for useat the floor and/or roof lines', in the short Wall, or that Wallparallel to the length of the beams, with the top face of top chord 4Iin the same plane as the top faces of beam top chords I, and with thebottom face of bottom chord 4,2 in same plane as the bottom faces ofbeam bottom chords 2, together with vertical members ,31 connecting theouter faces of the chords 4I and 42, and with holes 38 for theattachment of the vertical furring members 32, shown in dotted outlinein Fig. 15. The trussing members 39 connect chords 4I and 42. Means, asshown at 40, are provided for connecting chord members 4I and 42 to theinner column anges 6, shown in dotted outline in Fig. 15. In Fig. 14 Ishow a Vertical section of a short wall bearing and connecting girder,with vertical members I2, preferably angles, connecting the inner edgesof the top and bottom chords, and with a wood nailing member 2| attachedto members I2, parallel to the length of the girder, and with the top ofmember 2| lying in the same plane as does top chord 4I.

In the herein described construction system. columns and joists areintended to be standardized for economical production. A wide spacing ofeach is possible. Spacing of the columns may be independentfof thespacing of joists through the use of connecting and supporting girders.Lightweight steel framework may be quickly erected on foundations, andexterior watertight surfacing quickly lapplied over the framework, afterwhich all other construction may be nished, without interference due toadverse weather conditions.

Obviously, changes may be made in the form, dimensions and arrangementof the parts of my invention, Without departing from the principlethereof; the above setting forth only a preferred embodiment.

I claim:

1. In a structure of the class described, the combination with verticalWalls of a plurality of open web metal josts supported by the Walls, aplurality of spaced cross members disposed transversely of and thru theopen webs of the joists and rigidly aiiixed thereto, and a plurality ofspaced ceiling bars disposed transversely the cross members andsupported therefrom.

2. In a structure of the class described, the

combination With columns of open web metal Wall girders attached theretoat floor levels, nonload bearing vertically extending wall furringmembers attached to the wall girders, and open Web metal joistssupported by the wall girders.

3. A construction system comprising a plurality of spaced open Web metalcolumns, and open web metal wall girders attached thereto at floorlevels and adapted to support floor joists, and non-load bearingvertically extending wall furring members attached to the Wall girders.

4. In a system of` construction, a plurality of spaced columns, an openWeb metal wall girder attached thereto at floor level and consisting ofa top chord, a bottom chord, and outstanding Vertical members disposedbetween and aixed to the top chord and the bottom chord, and nonloadbearing wall fur-ring members secured to the outstanding verticalmembers.

5. In a system of construction, a plurality of spaced columns, an openweb metal wall girder attached thereto at floor level and consisting ofa top chord, a bottom chord, outstanding vertical members disposedbetween and afxed to the top chord and the bottom chord and adapted toreceive non-load bearing vertical Wall furring members, and trussingmembers disposed between and axed to the top chord and the bottom chord.

6. In a system of construction, spaced open web metal wall columns, openweb metal wall girders disposed at floor levels and affixed to the wallcolumns and consisting each of a top chord, a bottom chord, outstandingvertical members disposed between and amxed to the chords and adapted toreceive non-load bearing vertical wall furring members, and open webmetal joists disposed transversely the wall girders and aixed thereto.

7. In a system of construction, spaced open web

